Safety belt buckle



' March 1, 1966 R. c. FISHER SAFETY BELT BUCKLE Filed Aug. 13, 1964 v INVENTOR. 270Ze2 7 67 213/46 BY I /? :wvz/st United States Patent 3,237,258 SAFETY BELT BUCKLE Robert C. Fisher, 580 E. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Filed Aug. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 389,315 3 Claims. (Cl. 2477) This application is a continuation-in-part of applicant's co-pending application Serial No. 329,174 filed December 9, 1963, for Safety Belt Buckle, and discloses an improvement over the safety belt buckle disclosed therein.

This invention relates generally to buckles, and more particularly to an improved buckle for automobile type safety belts.

The safety belt buckle of the instant invention sets a new standard of user acceptance by eliminating annoying rattles and vibrations between the various components of the buckle. Since safety belt buckles are either disposed in a motorists lap in the coupled condition or, when not being used, are carried on the automobile seat, freedom from rattle and vibration increases acceptance and usage of safety belts which in turn saves lives.

Accordingly, one object of the instant invention is a buckle for a safety belt that is relatively free of rattles and vibration.

The belt buckle of the instant invention features an improved spring that serves a multiplicity of functions. The spring serves to bias a latch into locking engagement with a complementary belt tongue. The spring also serves to strip the tongue from the latch plate upon opening movement of the buckle handle. Furthermore the spring maintains a positive bias on the operating handle, the latch, and the adjustment slide of the buckle to preclude rattle and vibration thereof.

Thus, another object is an improved multi-purpose spring for a safety belt buckle.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following specification, claims and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of the safety belt buckle of the instant invention with the tongue removed therefrom;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the safety belt buckle of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 1.

As best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings, a safety belt buckle 10, in accordance with the exemplary constructed embodiment of the instant invention, comprises a base 12, a latch plate 1-4, a latch spring 16, a handle 18, a belt bar and a rear slide 22. The foregoing components are assembled in interlocking relationship on the base 12 and are self-retained in the assembled condition, as will be described.

A tongue (FIGURE 1) is adapted to be releasably accepted and retained within the buckle 10. One end 34 of a belt portion 36 is adapted to be adjustably looped around the bar 20 and an end 37 of a belt portion 38 is secured to the tongue 30 as by stitching designated by the numeral 39.

As best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the base 12 of the buckle 10 is of channel-like lateral cross-sectional configuration defined by a Web portion 40 with upstanding flange portions 42 and 44 at the opposite edges thereof. The flange portions 42 and 44 of the base 12 have inwardly folded edges 46 and 48 thereon, respectively, that extend generally parallel to the web portion 40 thereof.

The web portion 40 of the base 12 has a reentrantly folded latch retainer 50 at one end thereof that pivotally accepts an end portion 52 of the latch plate 14. The latch plate 14 is both supported for rotation relative to Patented Mar. 1, 1966 "ice the base 12 and retained against movement outwardly of the base 12 by the retainer portion 50 thereof.

The latch plate 14 has a latch face 54 on an offset portion 56 that is engageable with a complementary latch surface 58 on the periphery of an aperture 60 in the tongue 30 to effect locking of the tongue 30 within the buckle 10.

The latch plate 14 is normally biased toward the latched condition by the spring 16, one end portion 62 of which is disposed about the offset portion 56 of the latch plate 14.

The end portion 62 of the spring 16 is secured to a laterally extending portion 64 which in turn is connected to a pair of longitudinally extending side portions 66 and 68. A normally folded flange portion 70 joins the side portions 66 and 68 thereby to form what amounts to an open rectangle comprising the portions 64, 66, 68 and 70. A pair of reentrantly folded fingers 72 and 74 extend from the lateral portion 64 and extend generally parallel to the side portions 66 and 68, respectively, for engagement with the handle portion 18, thereby to maintain a constant bias on the handle 18 to preclude it from rattling.

The spring 16 has an upstanding latch plate stripper portion 76 on the opposite side of the lateral portion 64 thereof from the portion '62. The stripper portion 76 effects engagement with the underside of the tongue 30 when the latch plate 14 is biased to the release condition by the handle 18, as will be more particularly described hereinafter.

In accordance with the instant invention, the spring 16 has a pair of fingers 80 and 82 with upturned end portions 84 and 86, respectively, that engage the underside of the slide 22. The fingers 80 and 82 maintain a bias on the slide 22 to preclude rattle and vibration thereof.

The handle 18 has an offset portion that substantially closes the top of the buckle 10. The offset portion 90 of the handle 18 has a pair of ears 92 and 94 that are accepted under the folded edge portions 46 and 48 in generally parallel relation, respectively, to retain the handle 18 in the position shown in the drawings. The handle 18 pivots against the underside of the folded edge portions 46 and 48 on the base 12, so as to bring an edge portion 96 (FIG. 3) thereof into engagement with an inner end portion 98 of the latch plate 14, thereby to cam the latch plate 14 about the latch retainer 50 on the base 12 toward the open condition.

The slide 22 carries the belt bar 20 about which the end 34 of the belt portion 36 is looped. A front lip 100 on the slide 22 engages behind the folded flange portion 70 on the spring 16 which in turn is engaged behind a pair of projections 102 and 104 (FIG. 2) on the folded edge portions 46 and 48 on the base 12 to retain the slide 22 thereon.

The seat belt buckle 10 of the instant invention is assembled by first engaging the cars 92 and 94 on the handle 18 under the edge portions 46 and 48 thereof, respectively. The end portion 62 of the latch spring 16 is then engaged about the offset portion 56 of the latch plate 14. The assembled latch plate 14 and spring 16 are then inserted under the edge portions 46 and 48 of the base 12, and moved from the left to the right inwardly of the base 12, as seen in the drawings, to the position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. It is to be noted that a pair of notches 106 and 108 in the folded flange portion 70 of the spring 16 permits passage of the spring 16 past the projections 102 and 104 on the base 12. It is also required that the folded or flange portion 70 of the spring be moved away from the web portion 40 of the base 12 against its normal bias to allow the projections 102 and 104 to pass through the notches 106 and 108 whereupon the spring 16 snaps to the condition shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

The bar 20 is next assembled with the slide 22 and the end 34 of the belt portion 36 is inserted through the slot in the base 12, thence about the bar 20. The assembled bar, slide 22 and end 34 of the belt portion 36 is then inserted into the open end of the base 12 from the left, as seen in the drawings. The assembled slide 22 and bar 20 are moved inwardly of the base 12 until the lip portion 100 of the slide 22 snaps over the projections 102 and 104 on the base 12 on the transversely extending folded portion 70 of the spring 16.

The dimensional relationship of the lip portion 100 and the projections 102 and 104 is such that resilience of the slide 22 accommodates the aforementioned snapping of the lip portion 100 thereover. After the slide 22 is moved to the assembled condition, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the edge or lip portion 100 precludes disassembly of the slide 22 from the base 12.

Lengthening of the belt 36 is effected by movement of the slide 22 inwardly of the base 12 and tilting of the buckle relative to the end 34 of the belt portion 36. When the belt buckle 10 is so tilted and the slide 22 is moved inwardly as by a longitudinal squeeze, the belt 36 can be lengthened with one hand by merely pulling on the buckle 10. It is also to be noted that by gripping the buckle 10 at opposite ends thereof in order to lengthen the belt 36, the slide 22 is moved to the release position. Shortening of the belt portion 36 is effected by merely pulling on the top or free end 34 of the belt portion 36.

With respect to the spring 16, as best seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the finger portions 80 and 82 exert a constant bias on the slide 22 to preclude rattle thereof, yet do not interfere with adjustment of the belt portion 36.

The spring 16 also maintains a constant bias on the latch plate 14 to preclude rattle thereof. Further, the fingers 72 and 74 of the spring 16 maintain a constant bias on the offset portion 90 of the handle 18 to preclude rattle thereof.

As seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the folded flange portion 70 of the spring 16, which is folded normally to the side portions 66 and 68 thereof, is bowed to the right. Thus the folded flange portion 70 is normally engageable with the offset portion 90 of the handle 18 to bias it to the right as seen in FIG. 3 against the edge portions 46 and 48, respectively, of the base 12. In this manner the spring 16 precludes rattle of the bandle 18 due to vibratory movement thereof parallel to the Web portion 40 of the base 12 as well as to take up tolerance errors between these components.

The spring 16 serves yet another function in that it retains the latch plate 14 and handle 18 in the assembled condition relative to the base 12. As discussed hereinbefore, the handle 18 is first assembled onto the base 12 then the spring 16 and latch plate 14 are slidably engaged under the handle 18. In order to effect passage of the folded flange portion 70 of the spring 16 past the projections 102 and 104 on the edge portions 46 and 48, respectively, of the base 12, the folded flange portion 70 is biased upwardly, as seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings, as by a screwdriver or the like, until the notches 106 and 108 on opposite sides thereof register with the projections 102 and 104, whereupon the spring 16 and latch plate 14 are moved further to the right until the folded flange portion 70 clears the projections 102 and 104. The inherent resilience of the spring 16 is such that the folded flange portion 70 thereof is biased against the web portion 40 of the base 12 upon clearing the projections 102 and 104 locking the folded flange portion 70 therebehind. When the folded flange portion 70 is so locked behind the projections 102 and 104 it retains both the latch plate 14 and handle 18 against movement to the left as seen in FIG. 3. Also, the folded flange portion 70 serves as a latching surface for the lip on the slide 22 when it is assembled onto the base 12 as discussed hereinbefore. It is to 'be understood that the specific construction of the improved safety belt buckle herein disclosed and described is presented for the purpose of explanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having means at one end thereof for retaining a latch plate,

a latch plate in said retaining means,

a release handle on said base movable between the open and closed conditions, said handle being engageable with said latch plate to effect movement thereof to the open condition,

a belt tongue insertable between said latch plate and handle having a latch surface engageable with said latch plate,

a movable slide member at the opposite end of said base from the latch retaining means thereon, said slide having means for iadjustably securing an end portion of a belt to said base, and

resilient means on said base having a portion engageable with said latch plate for normally biasing said latch plate toward engagement with said tongue and a portion engageable with said slide to preclude rattle thereof.

2. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having a web portion with upstanding flanges on opposite sides thereof with inturned edge portions extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to the web portion thereof, said base member having means at one end thereof for retaining at latch plate,

a latch plate having an aperture therein defining a latch face, said latch plate being disposed between the web portion and edge portions of said base,

a release handle pivotally supported by the edge portions of said base member for rotation between the open and closed conditions, said handle being engageable with said latch plate to effect movement thereof,

a belt tongue insertable between said latch plate and handle having a latch surface engageable with the latch on said latch plate,

a movable slide member at the opposite end of said base from the latch retaining means thereof, said slide having means for adjustably securing an end portion of a belt to said base, and

resilient means between the web portion of said base and said latch plate for normally biasing said latch plate away from the web portion of said base,

said resilient means having a portion engageable with said tongue to preclude rattle thereof, a portion engageable with said handle to preclude rattle thereof, and a portion engageable with said slide to preclude rattle thereof.

3. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having a Web portion with upstanding flanges on opposite sides thereof with inturned edge portions extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to the web portion thereof, said base member having. means at one end thereof for retaining a latch plate,

a latch plate having an aperture therein defining a latch face, said latch plate being disposed between the web portion and edge portions of said base,

a release handle pivotally supported by the edge portions of said base member for rotation between the open and closed conditions, said handle being engageable with said latch plate to effect movement thereof,

belt tongue insertable between said latch plate and handle having a latch surface engageable with the latch on said latch plate,

movable slide member at the opposite end of said base from the latch retaining means thereof, said slide having means for adjustably securing an end portion of a belt to said base, said slide having a portion underlying the edge portions of said base and a portion overlying said adjusting means, and

resilient means having a portion disposed between the web portion of said base and said latch plate for normally biasing said latch plate away from the web portion of said base,

said resilient means having a portion engageable with References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1961 Warner.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SAFETY BELT BUCKLE COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER HAVING MEANS AT ONE END THEREOF FOR RETAINING A LATCH PLATE, A LATCH PLATE IN SAID RETAINING MEANS, A RELEASE HANDLE ON SAID BASE MOVABLE BETWEEN THE OPEN AND CLOSED CONDITIONS, SAID HANDLE BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LATCH PLATE TO EFFECT MOVEMENT THEREOF TO THE OPEN CONDITION, A BELT TONGUE INSERTABLE BETWEEN SAID LATCH PLATE AND HANDLE HAVING A LATCH SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LATCH PLATE, A MOVABLE SLIDE MEMBER AT THE OPPOSITE END SAID BASE FROM THE LATCH RETAINING MEANS THEREON, SAID SLIDE HAVING MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY SECURING AN END PORTION OF A BELT TO SAID BASE, AND RESILIENT MEANS ON SAID BASE HAVING A PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LATCH PLATE FOR NORMALLY BIASING SAID LATCH PLATE TOWARD ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TONGUE AND A PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SLIDE TO PRECLUDE RATTLE THEREOF. 